Nottingham Forest 5 Derby 2: Head boy Tudgay seals emphatic win

30 December 2010 12:24

Nigel Clough launched into a withering attack on his experienced Derby players after two former Rams strikers embarrassed him at the City Ground.

County boss Clough named and shamed defender Dean Leacock and midfielder Paul Green as Nottingham Forest extended their incredible unbeaten home record under Billy Davies to 30 games over 15 months.

Two goals apiece from Marcus Tudgay and Robert Earnshaw - both of whom spent decent spells at Pride Park - only served to heighten Clough's frustration.

Head boy: Two-goal Tudgay fires past Derby goalkeeper Bywater

And after the final whistle he delivered a blistering condemnation of his older players.

Derby had been left playing catch-upfrom as early as the second minute when Luke Chambers thundered home aheader from Radows law Majewski's corner.

Although Luke Moore equalisedshortly afterwards, Tudgay effectively ended the game with two furtherheaders before half-time. Earnshaw extended Forest's advantage beforeone of their old boys, Kris Commons, replied from a free-kick.

Wales international Earnshaw hammered home a fifth in injury-time before Clough let rip.

England cricketer and Sportsmail columnist Stuart Broad followed up watching the Ashes win Down Under by cheering Forest on to an emphatic victory with father, Chris

'That was very painful,' he said.

'The timing and manner of the goals- everything. There was a total lack of desire to keep the ball out ofour net, individually and collectively.

'I thought we were further down theroad than this. We were looking for our experienced players to comethrough. Dean Leacock is a centre-half with Premier League experienceand Paul Green is an international midfielder. But they gave usabsolutely nothing tonight.

'We've got no player over the age of30 in the 18-man squad and you are looking for these experiencedplayers to come through for you. But when you go over the so-calledwhite line there is no hiding. You either get on and do it, or youdon't.

Remember me: Wales striker Robbie Earnshaw was on target against his former club

'You can have all the ability in theworld, but it's not enough if you don't have the desire. It never hasbeen. So you either go and play in League Two or go back to Poland - orwherever you come from - if you can't do it. That's football.'

Clough ended the game without first-team coach Johnny Metgod, sent to the stands for dissent by referee Anthony Bates.

Forest were cheered on by Englandcricket all-rounder Stuart Broad and his father Chris, an ICC matchreferee, and they must have been delighted by a display in whichon-loan Arsenal and Wales star Aaron Ramsey, making his first Foreststart following the horrific broken ankle he sustained at Stoke withthe Gunners, was outstanding.